Pistons considering nuclear option with head coach Monty Williams?

Jan 10, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams against the Orlando Magic at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Desperate times may call for desperate measures from the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons decided earlier this week on their new president of basketball operations hire. The position was vacant in recent years as GM Troy Weaver had been heading the front office instead, but the team has now decided to bring in a new lead executive.

In the wake of the news, James L. Edwards III and Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Pistons owner Tom Gores is considering a nuclear option of sorts with head coach Monty Williams. Gores is reportedly willing to fire Williams and eat the remaining $60 million on Williams’ contract if the new president of basketball operations wants to hire a new head coach.

The former NBA Coach of the Year Williams was just hired by the Pistons last offseason on the biggest contract for a head coach by total value in NBA history. Detroit gave Williams a six-year, $78.5 million deal with additional incentives that could bring the total value up to a staggering nine figures.

But Williams has hardly delivered on that massive commitment so far (to say the absolute least). The Pistons finished an NBA-worst 14-68 this year, which was also the worst record in the entire history of their franchise (dating back to the Fort Wayne days). While Williams had to deal with a mismatched roster as well as a myriad of injuries, he certainly did not help himself either with some of the bad decisions he made during the season.

Firing Williams this soon into such an enormous deal would obviously be major egg on the face for the Pistons. But it sounds like Gores, who is one of the richest owners in the NBA with a reported net worth of $9.1 billion, may just be willing to grin and bear it.